pzb.lostsouls-第55部分

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not　wait。
　　〃When　I　cut　his　body　down；　I　saw　why。　It　was　as　dry　and　twisted　as　a　mandrake　root。　Ashley　had　been　dead　seven　days；　but　nothing　in　him　had　rotted　except　his　eyes　and　his　tongue。　There　was　nothing　else　left　to　rot　they　had　sucked　all　his　juices　out。　He　rustled　in　my　arms　as　I　cut　the　rope；　and　when　I　lifted　him　down　and　laid　him　on　the　floor　of　the　bell　tower；　he　rattled　like　a　sack　full　of　bones。　His　mouth　was　stretched　open；　his　lips　were　bloodless；　pulled　away　from　his　teeth。　Teeth　that　had　gone　the　color　of　old　ivory。　Far　back　in　his　head；　his　tongue　lay　withered。　His　hair　was　colorless；　drifting。　And　his　eyes…the　eyes　I　wanted　to　die　for　when　they　tilted　up　to　meet　mine…those　eyes　。　。　。　they　were　gone。　Those　eyes　were　gone；　and　Ashley　looked　at　me　out　of　the　darkness　of　his　shrivelled　brain；　and　his　face　flaked　away　when　I　touched　it。
　　〃His　lovers　were　still　there；　living　on　the　top　floor　of　the　church；　burning　incense　to　mask　the　faint　smell　of　Ashley's　decay。　For　seven　days　they　had　let　him　hang　with　his　face　sifting　to　dust　and　his　eyes　moldering。　When　I　descended　from　the　bell　tower　cradling　Ashley's　skull　the　flesh　fell　away　from　it　as　easily　as　old　crumbling　parchment…they　were　making　love　on　a　dirty　mattress　they　had　dragged　in。　Biting　throats；　clutching　hands；　laughing　and　sobbing　with　their　pleasure。　I　sat　with　Ashley　in　my　arms　and　waited　for　them　to　finish。　At　last　one　of　them　looked　up　at　me　and　said　It　was　easy　for　him；　Arkady。　As　easy　as　breathing。　And　the　other　one　told　me；　Death　is　easy。　You　should　know　that；　Arkady。　Death　is　easy。〃
　　Ghost　had　been　drifting　back　to　sleep；　his　head　pillowed　on　his　arms；　dreaming　the　story　more　than　hearing　it；　his　mind　filling　with　pictures　of　the　boy's　withered　body　on　the　long…ago　roadside；　the　giant　oak　tree　up　on　the　hill；　the　final　image　of　his　dream　in　the　car　that　had　frightened　him　so　badly…the　twins　lying　side　by　side　on　the　stained　mattress；　their　skin　drying　and　cracking；　their　beauty　spent。　Now　he　looked　up　and　said　sleepily；　〃Death　is　easy？〃
　　Somehow；　Arkady　sensed；　those　words　were　familiar　to　Ghost。　But　he　smoothed　pale　strands　of　hair　from　Ghost's　brow；　and　Ghost　let　his　head　sink　back　down。
　　Perhaps　Ghost　really　would　stay　with　him　tonight。　Perhaps　Ghost　wanted　to　drown　in　this　bed。　Surely　such　a　thing　was　possible。　Ashley　was　the　beauty　of　the　Raventons；　to　be　sure；　but　Arkady　too　possessed　the　high　clear　forehead　and　the　sharp　proud　cheekbones；　if　not　the　sparkling　burgundy　hair　or　the　unbelievable　eyes；　those　depthless　eyes。　Perhaps　Ghost　wanted　to　sigh　in　Arkady's　arms；　to　writhe　and　moan　beneath　the　ministration　of　Arkady's　lips。　It　had　been　so　very　long。
　　The　twins　could　still　lure　Arkady　into　their　bed　on　occasion；　because　they　were　beautiful　and　he　was　alone。　But　he　hated　them　for　what　they　had　done　to　Ashley；　and　he　was　afraid　of　the　hold　they　already　had　upon　him。　And　there　was　no　one　else。　Not　until　now；　not　until　this　nervous　magical　Ghost…child　with　the　pale　blue　eyes；　the　ragged　clothes　from　some　fantastic　thrift　shop；　the　translucent　hair　that　fell　across　his　eyes　as　he　slept。
　　〃Asleep；　Ghost？〃　Arkady　whispered。　〃Perhaps　not　yet。〃　He　bent　and　kissed　the　corner　of　Ghost's　eye　as　lightly　as　he　would　have　plucked　a　spider　from　its　web　to　dry　and　grind　for　gris…gris。　His　tongue　flickered　across　the　silken　scrap　of　Ghost's　eyelashes；　then　slid　down　Ghost's　cheek　and　sought　passage　between　those　exquisite　lips。
　　Every　nerve　in　Ghost's　body　seemed　to　e　instantly　alive；　tensing；　uncoiling。　He　flew　off　the　bed　backward　and　landed　in　front　of　the　door；　back　pressed　flat　against　the　wood；　chin　lifted　and　nostrils　flared　wide。　Even　his　eyelids　seemed　to　tremble。　His　eyes　met　Arkady's　and　locked　there；　large　and　seared；　aglow　with　pale　blue　fire。
　　Arkady　held　the　look　for　a　long　moment。　Then　he　let　his　gaze　flick　to　the　window；　and　he　lifted　one　bony　shoulder　in　a　tiny；　unconcerned　shrug。
　　〃She'll　die；　Ghost。　Unless　that　foetus　es　out　soon；　its　growth　will　be　too　far　gone。　This　is　no　vulnerable　morsel　of　meat　to　be　scraped　out　by　any　back…alley　abortionist　with　a　curette　and　a　roll　of　dirty　cotton。　Try　that；　and　it　will　rip　open　her　womb　even　sooner。
　　〃No。　You　must　poison　it。　Otherwise　it　will　grow；　and　Ann　will　die；　and　perhaps　your　precious　Steve　will　die　too。　Guilt　twists　a　man；　Ghost。　You　cannot　protect　him　forever。　He　may　bleed　his　life　away　in　a　car　crash；　or　pick　a　fight　with　someone　who　carries　a　razor　in　his　boot…the　Vieux　Carre　is　full　of　them。　Or　perhaps　a　slower　death。　A　pickling　of　the　liver？　An　insult　to　the　brain？　Death　can　e　in　a　bottle；　Ghost。　And　I　think　Steve　has　already　opened　that　bottle　and　taken　the　first　swallow。
　　〃You　must　poison　it；　Ghost。　To　save　Ann。　To　save　Steve。〃　Arkady　paused；　then　delivered　the　bitter　coup　de　grace。　〃I　know　the　recipe。　I　developed　it　after　Richelle　died。　I　can　help　you　。　。　。　if　I　wish。〃
　　Arkady　twitched　the　Sheets　back。　They　made　a　tiny　dry　rustling　sound；　like　long　linen　wrappings　falling　away　from　a　mummy's　face；　like　dead　moth　wings　dusting　down。　Ghost　jumped　a　little　at　the　sound。　With　both　hands　he　raked　his　hair；　pulling　it　in　front　of　his　face。　Arkady　saw　him　shudder。
　　Then　his　back　straightened；　and　his　shoulders　squared；　and　his　eyes　flared　dark　once　and　then　were　as　pale　as　before。
　　〃Okay；〃　he　said。
　　
　　Those　few　steps　back　to　the　bed　were　the　worst　Ghost　had　ever　taken。　He　felt　the　floorboards　under　his　bare　feet；　coated　with　a　dry　and　silken　dust。　Arkady's　skin　would　feel　that　way　against　his　own。　Arkady's　hands　would　caress　his　soul；　Arkady's　tongue　would　explore　his　brain　。。。。
　　He　would　not　think　about　it。　He　would　think　about　singing　at　the　Sacred　Yew；　with　Steve　going　wild　on　guitar。　Back　when　things　were　simple。　That　was　what　he　would　do。　〃Okay；〃　he　said；　refusing　to　hear　his　own　words。　〃I'll　do　whatever　you　want。〃
　　He　was　onstage　now；　clutching　at　the　microphone；　ready　to　let　his　voice　flow。　But　Arkady's　papery　lips　clamped　over　his　mouth；　sealing　it。　Arkady's　tongue　cleaved　to　his；　tasting　of　bitter　herbs。　Arkady's　dry　touch　spidered　down　his　chest；　under　his　T…shirt。　He　felt　that　touch　in　the　depths　of　him；　razoring　along　his　backbone；　turning　his　intestines　shuddery。　He　began　to　choke。
　　〃No；〃　said　a　voice　from　the　dark　doorway。　A　weary　voice；　a　voice　for　speaking　long　after　midnight；　a　voice　to　be　used　when　all　paths　are　blocked；　when　castles　have　fallen　to　ruin；　when　morning　will　not　e　again。
　　Ghost's　eyes　swept　the　darkness。　〃Steve？〃　For　the　voice　was　Steve's；　and　the　smell　was　Steve's　too；　the　clothes　stiff　with　drinking…sweat。　But　the　smell　of　lonely　desperation　was　gone。　There　was　exhaustion；　and　fear；　and　the　damp　secret　scent　of　sorrow。　But　beneath　those　was　something　new；　something　Ghost　hadn't　caught　from　Steve　for　a　long　time。　A　vibration　more　than　a　scent。　A　tremor　that　thrummed　the　air　between　them；　turned　it　electric；　webbed　it　with　white　crackling　lines　of　energy。
　　It　was　anger。　Good　old　pissed…off　Steve　Finn　anger。
　　Arkady　hissed　air　in　through　his　teeth。　〃You。〃
　　〃Get　your　hands　off　him；〃　said　Steve。　He　gripped　either　side　of　the　doorjamb；　holding　himself　up。　His　hair　stood　up　in　crazy　dark　tufts　and　wings；　shoved　messily　behind　his　ears；　a　week　dirty。　〃Let　him　go；　motherfucker；〃　he　told　Arkady　again。　〃I　don't　care　what　kind　of　badass　juju　guy　you　are。　Right　now　I　could　reach　down　your　throat　and　tear　your　foul　black　heart　out。　With　pleasure。〃
　　Arkady　let　go　of　Ghost。
　　〃e　on；〃　said　Steve。　He　jerked　a　thumb　toward　the　staircase。　〃We're　leaving。　We're　getting　in　the　goddamn　T…bird　and　going　home。　Ann　can　get　torn　apart　from　inside　out　if　that's　what　has　to　happen。　If　that's　what　she　wants。
　　You're　not　gonna　make　yourself　into　a　whore　for　her。
　　〃Or　for　me。
　　〃Or　for　anybody。　You're　too　good　for　that；　Ghost。　You're　too　goddamn　fine。〃
　　Steve's　eyes　shone　crystal…bright　in　the　dark。　Two　wet　lines　glistened　their　way　down　his　cheeks。　Tear…tracks。　But　he　stood　straight；　and　though　his　hands　still　gripped　the　doorjamb　and　his　clothes　hung　from　him　like　rags　on　a　scarecrow；　he　was　strong。　Strength　vibrated　from　him。　He　had　made　a　decision；　and　he　would　abide　by　it。　But　not　alone。
　　Ghost　went　to　him。　After　a　moment　Steve　let　his　arms　drop　onto　Ghost's　shoulders；　and　Steve's　tears　fell　into　Ghost's　hair　and　were　lost　there；　palely　tangled。　They　stood　leaning　on　each　other；　strength　passing　between　them。
　　〃Let's　go；〃　Steve　said　at　last。
　　〃Wait！〃　called　Arkady　when　they　were　halfway　down　the　hall。
　　Steve　stopped　but　did　not　turn。　His　grip　on　Ghost's　arm　tightened。　Ghost　looked　back　over　his　shoulder；　drawing　closer　to　Steve；　afraid　to　meet　Arkady's　eyes。
　　〃You　are　too　fine；　Ghost；〃　said　Arkady；　and　though　his　voice　was　only　a　moth…whisper　in　the　dusty　hallway；　they　heard　him。　〃I　did　not　lie　when　I　said　you　were　brave…dreadfully；　achingly　brave。　You　shared　none　of　my　lust；　but　to　save　your　friends　you　would　have　given　yourself　to　me。　And　I　would　have　let　you。
　　〃Indeed；　you　are　too　fine。　We　must　band　together　against　the　eternal　night。　The　vampires　took　my　brother；　and　I　will　not　let　them　take　another　beautiful　young　life。　I　will　help　you。　Lord　help　me；　I　will　help　you。〃
　　And　Arkady　Raventon　crossed　himself　twice。　First　upside　down；　then　right　side　up。
　　
　　〃Fern；〃　said　Arkady；　holding　a　packet　of　dried　leaves　up　to　the　light。
　　They　had　e　downstairs　and　lit　the　candles　in　the　shop；　calling　up　the　spirits　of　cinnamon；　nutmeg；　licorice。　Arkady　had　arranged　his　materials　on　the　glass　countertop：　vials　and　encrusted　bottles；　a　mortar　and　pestle；　a　bundle　of　crumbling　envelopes。　Now　he　picked　through　them；　sifting；　pinching；　sniffing　and　muttering。
　　Steve　slouched　against　the　opposite　wall；　scowling　but　surreptitiously　interested。　Ghost　watched　with　his　chin　prepped　in　his　hands；　horribly　rapt。　He　did　not　want　to　watch　the　making　of　the　poison　that　would　scour　Ann's　womb；　but　he　had　to。　This　was　too　familiar。　This　awakened　memories　of　his　grandmother　and　Miz　Catlin；　or　his　grandmother　alone；　hunched　over　some　candlelit　table　with　an　assortment　of　packets　and　tiny　shining　bottles　dose　at　hand。　Ghost　would　creep　out　and　hide　in　the　shadow　of